Whit Bazemore and his David Powers-owned Matco Tools Top Fuel team rebounded like true champions Friday evening at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The veteran nitro pilot powered his Matco Tools rail to a track-record speed of 332.51 mph Friday evening under the lights at the historic New Jersey track.
The 2003 Englishtown Funny Car winner opened qualifying for the 37th annual SuperNationals with the second quickest pass of the session. Bazemore used a tune-up from champion crew chief Lee Beard to power the Matco Tools rail to a pass of 4.577 seconds at 326.00 mph. On Friday’s second qualifying effort, Bazemore blistered the Raceway Park quarter mile in 4.521 seconds at 332.51 mph to finish sixth in the 16-car order. It was the fastest Top Fuel pass of Bazemore’s career and his first 330-mph speed behind the wheel of the Matco Tools rail. He went 333.25 mph in his Matco Tools Funny Car at Joliet, Ill. in 2004.
“We’re making baby steps and it’s good, ” Bazemore said. “We’re in a good position. Our first run we ran 4.57 and left a lot on the table. Tonight, we expected a little more E. T. out of the car. We were a little conservative. We’re looking forward to Saturday when we’ll see more race day conditions. If we can squeeze out a 4.54 or 4.55, it’ll have been an excellent qualifying weekend. ”
Top Fuel qualifying resumes on Saturday afternoon with sessions scheduled for 1 and 3:30 p. m. (CT) at the New Jersey facility. ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p. m. (ET) on Saturday evening.
Q1 4.577 ET, 326.00 MPH No. 2
Q2 4.521 ET, 332.51 MPH No. 6
| 
|